Bent's Fort

A trading post on the Arkansas River and Santa Fe Trail, in the southeast corner of Colorado, Bent's Fort (to the local Mountain men "Big Lodge") deals with the Southern Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians, chiefly in buffalo robes. Richens Lacy (Uncle Dick) Wootton is guiding the wagon train ostensibly led by protagonist Sir Harry Flashman to Bent's Fort when he contracts cholera and has to be left behind. After part of the train disregards Wootton's advice and Flashy's orders, the rest get within sight of the fort before being attacked by Indians. Most of the train makes it into the gates—only to find the fort deserted. When fire arrows begin to be fired over the ramparts, Flashy discovers that the massive towers have been mined with gunpowder and only a failed fuse had prevented the place from being blow to bits. Fearing a conflagration...